Does every W hotel have the worst service out of all the Marriott brands?
May 29, 2019, 12:22 pm
#106
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,319
Oh my, this thread...
You can't paint an entire brand with a broad brush, nor it's clientele. W Bali is sensational, but won't have an entirely hip/cool crowd like a W in NYC may (or may not) have. W London (Leicester Sq) was a disaster when it opened; they changed some of their staff and processes and my last couple of stays have been fantastic. Hotels can deteriorate too based on maintenance, management, staff, whether you get an upgrade, etc.
Some of my best 'Bonvoy' stays have been at W's. I see tripadvisor reviews about how terrible see-through showers are, or having a 'bouncer' out the front of a W, music in the elevators being too loud, etc, etc. Do your research and dodge the brand; there are dozens of others to choose from.
You can't paint an entire brand with a broad brush, nor it's clientele. W Bali is sensational, but won't have an entirely hip/cool crowd like a W in NYC may (or may not) have. W London (Leicester Sq) was a disaster when it opened; they changed some of their staff and processes and my last couple of stays have been fantastic. Hotels can deteriorate too based on maintenance, management, staff, whether you get an upgrade, etc.
Some of my best 'Bonvoy' stays have been at W's. I see tripadvisor reviews about how terrible see-through showers are, or having a 'bouncer' out the front of a W, music in the elevators being too loud, etc, etc. Do your research and dodge the brand; there are dozens of others to choose from.
May 29, 2019, 6:59 pm
#107
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: DL DM; Marriott Ambasador Elite
Posts: 626
Sorry to hear a couple of you have had poor experiences at the Scottsdale property. I should have qualified that I’ve only stayed there twice for 1-2 nights each; both times I was upgraded to massive rooms and treated well. I’m heading out there again in a few months; will likely book the Phoenician instead this time.
May 29, 2019, 7:56 pm
#108
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,399
Sorry to hear a couple of you have had poor experiences at the Scottsdale property. I should have qualified that I’ve only stayed there twice for 1-2 nights each; both times I was upgraded to massive rooms and treated well. I’m heading out there again in a few months; will likely book the Phoenician instead this time.
I've said it elsewhere, but if possible, book the Canyon Suites on the same resort campus as the Phoenician.
May 29, 2019, 8:06 pm
#109
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
Sorry to hear a couple of you have had poor experiences at the Scottsdale property. I should have qualified that I’ve only stayed there twice for 1-2 nights each; both times I was upgraded to massive rooms and treated well. I’m heading out there again in a few months; will likely book the Phoenician instead this time.
But, the reviews are telling -- many low scores from top tier elites with comments such as "Loyalty doesn't matter," "This hotel caters more to the "Day Club" clientele than to their hotel guests,":. You can see these reviews are from folks who are SPG loyalists. Only 69 percent of Plat and above recommend the hotel. In comparison, the Marriott Old Town Suites, which is purportedly a step down from a W, has reviews with Plats/Titaniums/Ambassador almost all giving it a 4 or a 5. 94 percent of Plat and above recommend that hotel. You can also compare to the W Punta Mita where 90 percent of Plat and above recommend the property.
Still, I've come back couple of times and they have a new GM who I hope will get things on track. On the other hand, on my last stay, I went with the Phoenician as its just five minute ride away. It was actually $2 a night cheaper and had the full buffet rather than just a card of a few choices (which is actually an improvement under the new GM)
May 29, 2019, 8:13 pm
#110
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,753
Again, you're stating an observation that applies some of the time as if it were fact. I know plenty, plenty, plenty of people who buy BMWs that can not afford them and should not own them. I'm sure you do too. I know some millionaires that drive around in 14 year old Honda's. ... So your condescending statement "it's not that complicated" is actually totally wrong.
A key concept.
I used to stay for a week every year at the Ritz Carlton Beach Resort in APF. What a wonderful hotel, from hard product to staff. I probably went for six or so consecutive years, and everything was always perfect.
May 30, 2019, 2:26 pm
#113
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
Programs: A3(*G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,534
I also prefer the W approach to the fake servility you will often encounter at RCs (especially) and StR. Just tacking "sir" on the end of every sentence does not convert poor service to good service. That said I find W's branding, which often involves replacing perfectly appropriate descriptors with nonsense words that tell you absolutely nothing about the product or service being offered.
The breakfast was great though.
May 30, 2019, 2:49 pm
#114
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Chicago
Programs: United-1K, Marriott-Titanium Ambassador, Hyatt-Globalist
Posts: 215
Only bad service I had was at the W Minneapolis when they closed my portfolio out almost 24 hours before I checked out and I needed to move some hotel charges to a personal card. They couldn't do it because I was already closed out and it took a GM plus a call to Marriott to get it all sorted. But the stay itself was pretty fantastic even though I can't see anything when walking through that Lobby.
Other than that, no issues with a W.
Other than that, no issues with a W.
May 30, 2019, 8:54 pm
#116
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Newton Centre, MA, USA
Programs: DL 2MM Gold, AA Plat Pro; Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium (via SPG), IHG Plat
Posts: 2,192
Too true. I remember my first stay at a W (HK). I remember being impressed when the GM came out to meet me at check-in and said they had prepared a "wonderful room" for me as a Plat, only for me to realise that this was actually the worst kind of room the hotel offered.
The breakfast was great though.
The breakfast was great though.
May 31, 2019, 1:49 am
#117
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,448
Too true. I remember my first stay at a W (HK). I remember being impressed when the GM came out to meet me at check-in and said they had prepared a "wonderful room" for me as a Plat, only for me to realise that this was actually the worst kind of room the hotel offered.
May 31, 2019, 1:59 am
#118
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Sweden
Programs: Marriott Platinum - LT Gold
Posts: 688
LOL so true. Up coming 400€/night end of june for thee nights with W Barcelona. That's brg rate. Regular is +500€/night lol. I just know I'll say this when I enter my room "Wow, I can't believe how much I'm paying for this.".
May 31, 2019, 2:45 am
#119
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
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Posts: 21,167
Wow that must mean there are 8, even 10, people cramming into the room at one time, up from the standard 6. Might as well just set up their call center in the room.
May 31, 2019, 3:11 am
#120
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,717
But it's the W Barcelona - the creators of the brand have been able to create something which at its best definitely has the wow factor.